We are very proud of our nurses. They make a difference in the lives of so many people every day. But nurses are typically modest. So when they receive an award, get promoted, or achieve something else they’re proud of … we sometimes have to do the bragging for them. 

Clarian Heroes In The News.

- Posted March 4, 2010 -

Meet the Latest DAISY Award winners

As the New Year came and went, nominations for the fourth quarter 2009 DAISY Awards came to a close … and quarterly winners were recently chosen and honored at Clarian Health’s three downtown Indianapolis hospitals. And the winners are:

Cassie Osborne, RN
3East – IU Hospital

“I’m humbled to receive the DAISY Award,” Osborne said recently. “It’s nice to be recognized. I come here to do my job and hope that I’m doing it right. I treat my patients how I would want my family treated. I love this unit!”

Osborne was nominated by an oncology patient’s wife who said: “Having Cassie take care of my husband shows me angels walk among us. We have met hundreds of nurses … but none like Cassie. She is my inspiration … and I am going to go back to school to be an oncology nurse. I want to help others like Cassie does.”

Bonnie Jenkins, BSN, RN
Adult Critical Care – Methodist Hospital

A member of the ACC staff since 1990, Jenkins is an active member of the scheduling committee as well as several family centered initiatives that offer support during critical care hospitalizations. A previous Excellence in Community Service award winner for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), Jenkins is a frequent recipient of commendation letters from families and co-workers about the compassion and support she provides to patients and families.

One patient’s family member said this about Jenkins’ care: “Bonnie has been an enormous comfort and support to our entire family. Her gentle, kind, honest and compassionate delivery is her true gift. We will be forever grateful.”

Laura McNew, RN
4B Unit – Riley Hospital

McNew joined the Riley staff about 3.5 years ago as a new graduate and now works on 4B with endo, ortho, metabolism and complex care patients. Co-worker Julane Petroy, a social worker, nominated McNew for the DAISY Award.

“Laura took the time to sit with my challenging diabetic patient and review the dinner menu to find options that the patient would like,” Petroy wrote. “She was patient, calm, went above and beyond with bedside manner and patient care. As always, Laura takes the time for patients and strives to make each patient’s day the best it can be.”

Editor’s note: DAISY Awards are presented quarterly to a nurse from Methodist, Indiana University and Riley hospitals, honoring their caring, compassion and commitment to professional nursing.

Magnet Model Components: Structural Empowerment

- Posted February 24, 2010 -

Spotlight on Ball Memorial Hospital:
Evidence-Based Practice Report

Editor’s note: With an eye on systemness, The Synergist will routinely highlight nurses and initiatives from our partners around the state, starting with Ball Memorial in Muncie, which is on the journey to preeminence with a firm grasp on nursing excellence.

By Doreen C. Johnson, RN, MA, FACHE, CNAA-BC
Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer
Ball Memorial Hospital

One autumn afternoon in 2002, I invited direct care nurses and other nurse leaders to join me for a cup of coffee -- and to dream. In their dreams, nurses saw a workplace in which they had the knowledge and confidence to make effective decisions to promote high quality, safe patient care. Out of those dreams emerged a new zeal for evidence-based practice.

Ball Memorial formed a research council within a professional practice model to help nurses find evidence, use it in practice and conduct original research. Magnet Recognition Program criteria now guide our work. Staff nurses make up 50 percent of the council membership and chair the council. A part-time nurse researcher and two CNSs provide support.

Current evidence-based practice and research projects include family presence during hospitalization, nurse-physician rounding, the Geriatric Resource Nurse model, falls prevention, family presence during resuscitation and phlebotomy in pediatrics. Staff nurses have published and presented projects in multiple venues.

Seven years after the dreaming began, we now have measurable, significant gains in EBP knowledge and practices. Rarely does a meeting occur in which a nurse doesn’t ask, “What does the research say?” Nurses now make decisions competently and confidently, based on evidence, in order to position our patients for the best outcomes.

Magnet Model Components: Transformational Leadership, Structural Empowerment, Exemplary Professional Practice and New Knowledge, Innovations & Improvements

- Posted February 12, 2010 -

New Bar-Coding Device Improves Medication Safety for Nurses and Patients

Rosa Chi, RN, has worked at Riley Hospital for more than 30 years – many of them spent on the Hematology/Oncology unit, where physicians frequently order complex chemotherapy regimens for cancer patients. Even with all her experience, Chi says she’s grateful for new medication bar-coding technology called CareMobile, which is keeping her patients safer.

CareMobile is a medication safety system that nurses at all three downtown hospitals, as well as Clarian North Medical Center and Clarian Arnett Hospital, are using to ensure that all “five rights of medication safety” – right medication, right dose, right time, right route, right patient – are met.

Nurses in inpatient areas use the handheld devices at the bedside to scan their employee badges, the patients’ wristband information and medication barcodes before administering medication. If the computer program reconciles all the information, the nurse gets the go-ahead to give the patient the medication. If something is amiss, such as a wrong dosage, a potential allergy concern or a missing physician’s order, the device alerts the nurse with a visual message and an audible alarm. The CareMobile device informs the nurse about the nature of the problem so the nurse can take steps to resolve it and proceed with the task.

“If a physician orders a medication at 3 mL, and I had a medication at 10 mL, it would alert me and ask if I want to continue,” explains Chi. “I like CareMobile. It makes me feel safer as a caregiver. I always double-check everything anyway, but this is an extra precaution. Since I work on Hem/Onc with all the chemo drugs, I want to be extra careful. CareMobile gives me peace of mind.”

Diane Thompson, vice president of Nursing and Patient Care Services at Indiana University Hospital, says Clarian considered CareMobile such a critical safety net for all nurses and patients that it was worth the considerable investment of time and money to implement it. “So much in the literature shows electronic tools help prevent medication errors that Clarian decided we needed to do it for the safety of our patients,” says Thompson. “It takes our nurses more time to administer medication with CareMobile, so we really appreciate their efforts to integrate it into their practice."

Christy Minton, RN, Clinical Informatics, helped with the training and rollout of CareMobile at Methodist Hospital last fall. She says, as with all new technology, it takes time for nurses to adopt the new process into their practice.

After just a few months of use, CareMobile compliance numbers for the week of Jan. 25-29 show that a large percentage of Clarian’s downtown nurses are regularly using the device.

CareMobile compliance rates by facility for Jan. 25-29, 2010:

• Methodist Hospital	92.5%
• IU Hospital	82.5%
• Riley Hospital	90.8%
• Clarian North	94.8%
• Clarian Arnett	87.8%

Minton says, while it would be ideal for 100 percent of patients to be scanned by CareMobile devices 100 percent of the time, in some scenarios, it is just not practical. For instance, she says the nurses sometimes must administer emergency medications before an official order for the drug can be entered in the system.

The teams also were mindful of sharing knowledge and working as part of an interdisciplinary group (Gittell, 2009), while benchmarking performance consistent with standards for nursing excellence (ANCC, 2008).

Clarian West Medical Center will begin using CareMobile this spring.

- Posted February 1, 2010 -

Nursing Quality updates: Hospital-acquired Pressure Ulcer and Fall Prevention

Throughout 2009, two system-wide Nursing Quality improvement teams made great strides toward reducing the incidence of patient falls and lowering rates for hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. The teams used the Model for Improvement framework (www.ihi.org) to develop systematic and reliable approaches to prevention, risk assessment and evidence-based practice.

The teams also were mindful of sharing knowledge and working as part of an interdisciplinary group (Gittell, 2009), while benchmarking performance consistent with standards for nursing excellence (ANCC, 2008).

Fall Team improvement strategies

The Fall Team is led by a partnership between Clinical Nurse Specialists Jennifer Woodard, MSN, CNS, IU Hospital, and Jennifer Cohn, MSN, CNS, Methodist. The co-leads successfully coached the 2009 Fall Team to complete the following tests of change in 2009:

• Evidence-based fall assessment education/ training
  
• Fall bundle design, product selection and standardization: slippers/ blankets as visual triggers
• Fall policy revisions reflecting timely, accurate evidence-based assessment and management. 

Additional tests of change designed and implemented include:

• Nursing team huddles after a fall, led by CNSs and other unit-based nurse leaders
• Posted unit-based days between falls highlighting unit awareness of performance
• Risk resilience conversations (on a number of units) with a particular focus on near-miss events related to a fall.

The success of the Fall Team was attributable in part to the addition of cascading responsibility through our Leadership Evaluation Management (LEM) model.  Additionally, a focus on comparing ourselves to other centers for nursing excellence (ANCC, 2008) helps us prioritize the work around falls, knowing the expectation for performance is that we outperform the mean when compared to other hospitals.  Specifically, we are required to have fewer falls on average when compared to other hospitals participating in the National Database for Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI).  

Fall Team results for 2009: How did change result in performance improvement?

The aim of the Fall Team has been to decrease falls/1,000 days and eliminate fall-related injury among adult patients. (Riley is equally engaged in fall prevention initiatives among children, but is ineligible to participate in adult-focused NDNQI benchmarking.)

IU Hospital medical units outperformed the mean with fewer falls compared to other medical units within the NDNQI database.  IU Hospital closed December 2009 with 1.5 falls/1,000 days, considered to be benchmark performance. Methodist Hospital outperformed the fall prevention mean throughout the reporting three quarters when compared to other hospitals participating in NDNQI.  Methodist closed 2009 with 3.8 falls/1,000 days. 

Hospital-acquired pressure ulcer tests of change/improvement strategies implemented in 2009

The following bullets capture the highlights of the team’s focus in 2009:

• Team formation: Intentional member/role selection
• Team charter established
• Established performance focus: aim clarity
• National networking established through National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Board
• PUP (pressure ulcer prevention): Six essentials identified
       o  Pressure ulcer admission assessment on all patients
       o  Assess risk of PU daily
       o  Skin assessment daily
       o  Manage moisture
       o  Optimize nutrition/hydration
       o  Minimize pressure
• Audits moved from quarterly to monthly
• Sustain Riley PUP Team: focus PICU
• Pilot test and Implement PUP rounds
• Engaging pivotal positions, i.e. CNS as boundary spanner (Gittell, 2009)
• Wound staging competencies among team
• Present on admission assessment form simplified
• Present on admission reporting – performance focus/engagement
• Hardwiring pre-designed defenses
       o  Audit process (Focus: timely, accurate, customizable)
       o  Braden risk assessment
       o  Evidence-based skin care protocol
       o  Specialty beds/surfaces
       o  Consultants: CNS, wound nurse, dietician
       o  Hand-off communication, i.e. 4 hands/4 eyes

Results

Dramatic improvement was experienced as result of an interdisciplinary team focus around design and execution of the aforementioned strategies. Clarian (Methodist, IU and Riley) experienced a 100%-percent reduction in Stage 4 Never Events and a remarkable decrease in Stage 3 Never Events between 2008-2009.

Specifically, Riley experienced a 75 percent reduction in never events, while IU Hospital experienced a 66 percent reduction, followed by Methodist Hospital with a 50 percent reduction. Currently, the prevalence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcer Never Events is 2.9 percent, which outperforms the NDNQI academic and hospital size comparisons. 

Next steps: 2010 fall prevention and hospital-acquired pressure ulcer prevention

• Process standardization and reliability
• Design and test IT solutions: alerts/triggers
• Identify and embed strategies that enhance shared knowledge, shared goals and mutual respect among care team (Gittell, 2009)

- Posted January 30, 2010 -

Put your CAP on … it’s time for more congratulations! 

Indianapolis , IN - Join Nursing Leadership in a round of applause for the newest group of promoting Partners and Senior Partners, who were honored at a reception earlier this week by colleagues, friends and family.

The Career Advancement Program at Clarian Health allows nurses to advance in their careers based on professional levels of practice. Partners and Senior Partners differentiate their caregiving based on eight dimensions of nursing practice that make up the Synergy Model for Patient Care.

Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive Linda Q. Everett, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, told new Partners and Senior Partners that “It’s nurses like you who push us further along on our preeminence journey. You reinforce the characteristics and qualities that make us a Magnet hospital system. Because of you, our patients get the safest and highest quality of care that’s available.”

New Partners and Senior Partners are:

Riley Hospital
Amanda Highfield, Partner
Maria LaRosa, Partner
Michelle Mills, Partner
Kelly Rowls, Senior Partner
Amanda Stewart, Partner

Beltway
Mary Ellen Head, Partner
Merri Beth Pallatin, Partner
Beverly Sanders, Partner

IU Hospital
Methodist Hospital

Methodist Hospital
Ana May, Partner
Karen East, Partner
Nicole Trinkle, Partner
Lisa Hilliard, Partner
Kelly Miller, Partner
Lisa Cagle, Partner
Tonda Wagoner, Partner
Jennifer Chubb, Partner

Learn more about the CAP program here. Synergy curriculum courses to help RNs prepare for advancement are offered year-round on the Clarian campus. Contact Kaye Claytor at 317-278-6584 for more details.

- Posted January 22, 2010 -

Riley Hospital Earns National Award for Outstanding Nursing Quality

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The American Nurses Association (ANA) today honored Riley Hospital for Children with a national award for outstanding nursing quality -- the 2009 National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) Award for Outstanding Nursing Quality in the pediatric hospital category. The award was presented this morning at an ANA conference in New Orleans.

The award recognizes Riley for consistently yielding outstanding patient outcomes that are tied directly to the high quality of nursing care at the hospital, according to the ANA. Riley demonstrated superior patient outcomes and high nurse job satisfaction on 18 nursing-sensitive performance indicators tracked by NDNQI, such as hospital-acquired pressure ulcers, patient falls with injury, infections acquired as a result of hospitalization and nurse turnover.

Riley, like other Clarian Health hospitals, uses NDNQI – the ANA’s unique database – to collect and compare nursing quality data to similar units at other hospitals regionally, statewide and nationally. NDNQI data helps Riley continually make strategic improvements in nursing care, patient outcomes and patient safety.

"Riley Hospital for Children exemplifies the commitment, leadership, data analysis and efficient use of resources that are needed by nursing executives and bedside nurses to produce the best possible patient outcomes," said ANA President Rebecca M. Patton. "The NDNQI program is all about using evidence from the reporting of outcomes to improve nursing care practices, staffing and systems for care delivery, and Riley Hospital for Children has achieved that at a high level."

Riley Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Marilyn Cox was in New Orleans today to accept the award at the 4th Annual NDNQI Data Use Conference. "This demonstrates what being a Magnet hospital is all about – creating and sustaining a work environment that supports professional nurses doing their absolute best for patients," Cox said.

Clarian Health Executive Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive Linda Q. Everett added: “This is well-deserved recognition for Riley’s excellent nursing staff and leadership; the award is visible evidence of the excellent practice environment at the hospital.”

Riley's award is one of six given annually by the ANA to hospitals in different categories: pediatric hospital, academic medical center, teaching hospital, community hospital, rehabilitation hospital and psychiatric hospital.

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About Riley Hospital for Children As one of the nation’s leading pediatric hospitals and Indiana’s first and only comprehensive hospital dedicated exclusively to the care of children, Riley Hospital for Children, a part of Clarian Health, has provided compassionate care, support and comfort to children and their families for 85 years. Each year, Riley Hospital and Riley Hospital at Clarian North serve over 215,000 inpatients and outpatients from across Indiana, the nation and the world. Riley Hospital’s partnership with Clarian Health, and its strong affiliation with the Indiana University School of Medicine, makes it the only comprehensive clinical resource for Indiana’s children and the premiere source for health-related information for their parents. From simple care associated with the health and wellness of children and less complex specialty care to the most critically-ill and medically complex cases, Riley Hospital for Children is a national leader. Clarian Health operates the Methodist Hospital, Indiana University Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children campuses as a single hospital under Indiana law. Visit www.rileyhospital.org for more information.

About Clarian Health As a preeminent leader in clinical care, education, research and service, Clarian Health is Indiana's most comprehensive academic medical center and one of the busiest hospital systems in the United States. Based in Indianapolis, Clarian owns or is affiliated with multiple hospitals and health centers throughout the state and maintains a strong partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine—the nation's second largest medical school and a global leader in medical education and research. Learn more at www.clarian.org.

- Posted January 15, 2010 -

Clarian Arnett Opens Riley Hospital for Children NICU

Lafayette, IN - Clarian Arnett Hospital is pleased to announce it now operates as a Riley Hospital for Children Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Clarian Arnett Hospital’s NICU program offers families the peace of mind that comes with service and support from Riley Hospital for Children’s nationally recognized NICU program.

Some of the unit features include:

• The region’s only hospital with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in-house neonatal provider coverage.
• Neonatologist, Dr. Abhay Singhal, who joined Clarian Arnett Hospital from Riley Hospital for Children, is the full time NICU Medical Director.
• Staffed by neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners and highly trained nurses specializing in the care of critically ill newborns.
• Shared electronic medical record platform with Riley Hospital for Children allows for real time information sharing of test results and diagnostic images.
• 12-bed, all private rooms provides greater comfort for the family.

For more information on our NICU unit and providers, visit us on the web at www.clarianarnett.org.

Clarian Arnett Health is a comprehensive health care system with the goal of providing the highest quality and most affordable health care through innovation and excellence in care, education, research and service. Clarian Arnett Health is a member of the Clarian Health system, yet is an independent non-profit organization with its own board of managers and executive management team.

- Posted January 7, 2010 -

Clarian North Names Damita Williams Chief Nursing Officer and VP of Patient Care Services

Carmel, IN - Clarian North Medical Center has named Damita Williams, RN, MSN, MA, CPN, NE-BC, its Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services. In this role, Williams will be responsible for the leadership of all nursing and patient care services. These include adult medical, adult surgical, progressive care, intensive care units, maternity services, women’s services, coordinated breast center, diabetes management, adult and pediatric emergency services, cardiac catheterization lab, short stay unit, the Resource Center and Riley Hospital North.

Williams possesses more than 25 years of nursing experience in pediatrics and has served Clarian North Medical Center since 2005. She joined Clarian North as the Director of Riley Hospital North and Resource Center, and since September 2009, has served Clarian North as the Interim Chief Nursing Officer. Prior to joining Clarian North, Williams served as clinical manager of the unit for pediatric general, orthopedic and genitourinary surgery patients, gastrointestinal patients, and multi-visceral transplant patientsat Riley Hospital for Children in downtown Indianapolis.

"Damita is an exceptional and highly-respected clinician," said Jonathan R. Goble, president and CEO of Clarian North. "Given the expertise and passion she brings to the table, I look forward to working with her in this new role."

After receiving her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Ball State University, Williams began her nursing career as a staff nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit and the cardiac catheterization lab at Riley Hospital for Children. She later attended the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Ind. where she earned her Master of Science in nursing administration. Williams recently completed her Master of Arts in advanced leadership studies at Indiana Wesleyan University and is currently working on her Doctor of Education in organizational leadership there. In addition, she served as an adjunct faculty instructor at Indiana Wesleyan University in Indianapolis where she taught courses in the RN to BSN program from 2007 to 2009.

Click here to read the full article on Clarian.org.

- Posted December 27, 2009 -

Clarian Health's Riley and Methodist Hospitals Purchase Neurosurgical Device Created by Indiana-based Company

Indianapolis, IN - Clarian Health's Riley Hospital for Children and Methodist Hospital have each purchased a revolutionary, minimally invasive neurosurgical device that will help pediatric and adult neurosurgeons remove hard-to-reach tumors from the brain and spine. The purchase of The Myriad™ - invented and produced by Indiana-based medical device maker and supplier NICO Corporation - makes Riley the first pediatric hospital in the world and Methodist the first adult hospital in the Midwest to obtain the device.

By acquiring Myriad devices for its nationally-ranked neuroscience program, Clarian further positions itself as a leader in using the newest innovative technologies that can offer improved clinical outcomes for patients and better access to brain and spinal tumors.

The Myriad is the first automated and non-heat producing tumor removal tool that uniquely operates in both open and endoscopic surgical approaches in the central nervous system, which enables Clarian’s neurosurgeons to address a wider spectrum of disease conditions with less trauma to the patient. The device's slender design and malleable tip allows for superior control and precise surgical work that is delivered by the physician through foot pedal operation.

The device also makes it easy for surgeons to move from delicate tissue shaving near or on critical structures like optic nerves and carotid arteries to rapid tissue removal of large, more fibrous tumors without multiple insertions of different devices. This unique ability can shorten operating room times while offering the potential for improved patient outcomes.

Neurosurgeons at Methodist Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children are using the Myriad for minimally invasive tumor access and tumor removal for both adult and pediatric patients.

Click here to read the full article on Clarian.org.

- Posted December 16, 2009 -

Clarian West Presents New "Call to Health" Podcast

Avon, IN - Clarian West Medical Center is excited to present "A Call to Health." "A Call to Health" offers timely health, wellness, fitness and safety information from Clarian West Medical Center physicians and other health care professionals, and airs twice a month on WXRB-Radio. Podcasts of the broadcasts are also available right here on the News & Media page of our website, and are also available via an iTunes search for "Clarian West." New podcasts are added to our website regularly.

Each 15-minute "A Call to Health" segment focuses on a single health topic of interest, and offers in-depth discussion on everything from disease and injury prevention to healthy lifestyle tips. Interviews are conducted by Gus Pearcy.

Visit our News & Media page today to explore our newest "A Call to Health" podcast:

Understanding Diabetes
w/ Liz Daily, RN, CDE & Kelly Foxen, RD,CDE

Or, you can revisit some of our previously released podcasts, which include:

Foot Care for Diabetics
w/ Shawn Hatfield, MD

Advanced Medicine: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Women
w/ Gregory Raff, MD

Please watch the News at Clarian West for updates, as well as timely alerts when new "A Call to Health" podcasts are added.

To listen to the "A Call to Health" podcasts, visit the Clarian West Podcast page.

- Posted November 16, 2009 -

Clarian Health Employees Volunteer to Assist Marion County Health Department in Administering H1N1 Vaccine

Indianapolis , IN - Over the next two weeks, clinical volunteers from Clarian Health will assist the Marion County Health Department in administering the H1N1 vaccine to thousands of children in Indianapolis Public Schools. The Marion County Health Department recently launched a mass vaccination campaign offering the H1N1 vaccine to elementary schools, middle schools and high schools within IPS during the weeks of Nov. 9, Nov. 16 and Nov. 30. In response to the potential strain this vaccination effort could place on the public health system, clinical volunteers from Clarian Health have partnered with the Marion County Health Department to provide a majority of the on-site clinical support for its outreach to 65 IPS locations.

Clarian officials recruited all nurses, medical assistants and laboratory technicians interested in donating their time and services through the organization's employee volunteer program, Clarian Serves.

"Clarian has a long-standing tradition of serving our community outside the walls of our hospitals and centers," says Ron Stiver, Clarian Health's senior vice president of Engagement and External Affairs. "We are pleased to partner with the Marion County Health Department and IPS in administering the H1N1 vaccine to school-aged children across 65 locations."

Officials from the Marion County Health Department have expressed their appreciation for Clarian's involvement.

"The Marion County Health Department appreciates Clarian and its nurses for being so willing to help us provide H1N1 vaccine to our school-aged children," says Virginia A. Caine, MD, director, Marion County Health Department. "Clarian’s support is necessary in order to ensure we can accommodate as many of our 161,000 school-aged children as possible."

About Clarian Serves - The Clarian Serves employee volunteer program was launched at Clarian hospitals in downtown Indianapolis in April as an effort to promote a culture of volunteerism and social responsibility within the organization that positively impacts the health, development and well-being of employees and the communities they serve. In October, the program expanded to include four of Clarian's statewide affiliates: Clarian Arnett Health, Clarian North Medical Center, Clarian West Medical Center and Tipton Hospital. To date, more than 1,700 employees participate in Clarian Serves.

About Clarian Health - As a preeminent leader in clinical care, education, research and service, Clarian Health is Indiana's most comprehensive academic medical center and one of the busiest hospital systems in the United States. Based in Indianapolis, Clarian owns or is affiliated with multiple hospitals and health centers throughout the state and maintains a strong partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine - the nation's second largest medical school and a global leader in medical education and research.

For more information contact Gene Fords at 317-962-4576.

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- Posted November 6, 2009 -

SICU Nurses at Indiana University Hospital Step Up in a Big Way for Thoracic Surgery Patient

Indianapolis , IN - More than eight years ago, the cardiovascular patient population moved to Methodist Hospital from IU Hospital. So when a recent IU Hospital surgery schedule showed a patient that would likely require an Intra Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP) to recover from his thoracic surgery, the question became - how would the SICU nurses at IU be able to care for this patient, when all the staff that typically cares for IABP patients is now at Methodist?

As usual, Clarian nurses did what heroes do. They stepped up and went beyond the call of duty to ensure that the patient got the care he needed.

"We still had a number of nurses in the SICU who had cared for patients with IABPs and were up to the challenge of caring for this individual," explained SICU Manager Michael Luebbehusen. "A team of eight nurses who were still certified to care for patients on this piece of specialty equipment volunteered to reschedule and pick up extra shifts to ensure this patient had qualified, competent care."

With little time to prepare, the team had to re-learn everything they needed to know about the IABP. Jeanette Pickeral and Lisa Fite from Nursing Education made sure the most updated IABP education was available and provided an IABP simulator on which the team could familiarize themselves. Perfusion team members checked in on the patient and the staff every day. Luebbehusen and RN Senior Partner Terrie Beeson provided resource and trouble shooting support. And the nursing staff provided each other with tips, hands-on review, educational and moral support as well as very attentive care for the patient.

The result was that an IABP patient received care for more than 10 days with no complications, by a unit where IABP procedures hadn't been performed in more than eight years. By post-op Day 15, the patient received transfer orders to the PCU, walked from the bed to the doorway of his room and was tolerating a passé muir valve on his trach.

"All managers like to brag about their teams, but this time it felt more significant. This definitely wasn't a routine patient, and our nurses had to go out of their way to make sure that he had 24/7 care," Luebbehusen said. "They had to dust off clinical skills they hadn't used in more than eight years, and they did. It was an amazing team effort and I am so proud of them."

One nurse in particular stands out for his efforts to learn about this new support device. Brent Layton had never seen an IABP and was intensely interested in how it worked. He repeatedly visited the patient's room, questioned the nurses about the balloon pump, played and practiced timing on the simulator unit and even took and passed an online certification course. By the end of the seven days that this patient was on SICU with the balloon pump, Brent cared for him with a resource back up.

Luebbehusen also made sure that special thanks would be given to the eight staff nurses who volunteered without hesitation to work overtime, pick up extra shifts and reschedule to bring high quality care to this patient: Nancy Beedle, Marite Bucina, Leah Dilley, Dawn Johnson, Sheree Keller, Brent Layton, Ted Proctor and Patti Clare Ralston.

A letter from the patient's daughter shows the impact that this team of nurses had on their patient: "It did me a lot of good to see the extraordinary technology and skill exhibited in all aspects of dad's surgery and post-operative care. I was truly amazed and completely grateful for the skill of the nurses who cared for dad throughout his stay in ICU. Not only was the care simply first class, the compassion you showed to us was humbling."

Congratulations to all the Clarian nurses who showed why they are second to none - another great example of teamwork, commitment and skill!

- Posted October 29, 2009 -

Clarian Arnett Adds a Nurse Midwife

Lafayette, IN - Clarian Arnett is pleased to announce that Sharon Smith, CNM joined our OB/GYN department on October 12, 2009.

Ms. Smith received her Master’s of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Nurse-Midwifery from the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing. She joins us from HealthNet, Inc. in Indianapolis where she practiced Midwifery.

Ms. Smith is a Certified Nurse Midwife with over ten years of experience working with women during their childbearing cycle and life transitions.

Her services include the following:

• Routine obstetrics
• Support for natural childbirth
• Health education and preventive care
• Preconception care
• Family planning
• Routine gynecology

For more information or to schedule an appointment call 765.474.MYMD or 866.377.MYMD.

Clarian Arnett Adds a Nurse Practitioner

Lafayette, IN - Clarian Arnett is pleased to announce that Brenda Carr-Vogelgesang, FNP-BC joined our Hospitalist department in September 2009.

Ms. Carr-Vogelgesang received her Master of Science in Family Practice Nursing from the University of Indianapolis. She joins us from Medpoint Express in Noblesville, IN where she served as a Family Nurse Practitioner and Community North Intensive Care where she served as a charge nurse .

Clarian Arnett Hospitalist providers evaluate and treat the following:

• Hospital admissions
• Follow-up visits
• Consultations
• Hospital discharges

For more information call 765.474.MYMD or 866.377.MYMD.

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About Clarian Arnett Health - Clarian Arnett Health is a comprehensive health care system with the goal of providing the highest quality and most affordable health care through innovation and excellence in health care, education, research and service. Clarian Arnett Health is a member of the Clarian Health system, yet is an independent non-profit organization with its own board of managers and executive management team. Visit Clarian Arnett Hospital for more information.

- Posted October 22, 2009 -

Clarian Arnett Hospital Celebrates One Year Anniversary

Lafayette, IN - October 16th marked the one-year anniversary of the Clarian Arnett Hospital opening and the day Clarian Arnett Health became an integrated health care system.

“An integrated health care system means more than technology; it’s about providing our patients a seamless transition in care in the office, in the hospital, with labs and imaging – or wherever they need care in the Clarian Arnett system. It promotes unprecedented levels of teamwork between physicians and employees,” states Dr. Donald Clayton, Clarian Arnett Board Member and Medical Staff President. “We’re offering our patients the full continuum of quality care.”

To celebrate the milestone in health care, Clarian Arnett Health held a community event on October 16th in the hospital parking lot. The Call to Change mobile was present to provide free health screenings and light refreshments.

Clarian Arnett Health Appoints New CEO

Lafayette, IN - Alfonso Gatmaitan, FACHE, has been named Chief Executive Officer of Clarian Arnett Health, effective November 2, 2009.

Gatmaitan joined Clarian Arnett Health in May 2009 as interim Chief Executive Officer while he managed dual roles for Clarian Health, also serving as CEO for Clarian West Medical Center in Avon.

Al has a long track record of success as a health care executive. He began his career 24 years ago at Logansport Hospital, served as CEO for Tipton Hospital for 11 years and joined Clarian West Medical Center in 2003 as its first employee.

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About Clarian Arnett Health - Clarian Arnett Health is a comprehensive health care system with the goal of providing the highest quality and most affordable health care through innovation and excellence in health care, education, research and service. Clarian Arnett Health is a member of the Clarian Health system, yet is an independent non-profit organization with its own board of managers and executive management team. Visit Clarian Arnett Hospital for more information.

- Posted October 6, 2009 -

Clarian North's Breast Care Services Receive National Accreditation

Carmel, IN - Clarian North Medical Center’s Breast Care program in Carmel has been granted a three-year, full accreditation designation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons. Clarian North is the first hospital in Indiana to receive this accreditation.

“We are honored to receive this designation and believe it is a result of the hard work, dedication and commitment our staff has to each patient,” said Dr. Patricia Kennedy, Medical Director of Clarian North’s Breast Care program. “We plan to continue providing all of our patients with the high-quality continuum of care they deserve as they face breast cancer or other breast health concerns.”

Accreditation by the NAPBC is only given to those centers that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care. To qualify for the designation, the breast care program and its staff undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. The program must prove that it provides comprehensive care that includes diagnostic, treatment and support services. Clarian North’s certified breast health navigator personally guides each patient through the care process once the patient has been diagnosed. The navigator ensures that comprehensive care and support resources are available throughout treatment and beyond.

Read complete press release at Clarian.org: Clarian North's Breast Care Services Receive National Accreditation

- Posted June 21, 2009 -

Riley Hospital for Children ranked among the best in U.S. News Media Group’s 2009 edition of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals

Riley Hospital – the only Indiana hospital - ranked in seven specialties, with one specialty ranked third in nation

INDIANAPOLIS - Seven specialty programs at Riley Hospital for Children ranked among the top 30 children’s hospitals in the nation, including urology which ranked third, in U.S. News Media Group’s 2009 edition of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals, published online at www.usnews.com/childrenshospitals and featured in the August issue of U.S.News & World Report, available on newsstands starting July 21.

The 2009 America’s Best Children’s Hospitals, the most extensive listing of its kind,ranks hospitals in cancer; diabetes and endocrine disorders; digestive disorders; heart and heart surgery; kidney disorders; neonatal care; neurology and neurosurgery; orthopedics; respiratory disorders; and urology.

The Riley Hospital specialty programs recognized by U.S. News & World Report and their numerical rankings are:

• Urology – 3rd
• Diabetes & Endocrine Disorders – 12th
• Neonatal Care – 14th
• Respiratory Disorders – 14th
• Digestive Disorders – 18th
• Neurology & Neurosurgery – 27th
• Orthopedics – 29th

“As the only hospital in Indiana to be listed among the top hospitals in the nation, we are extremely proud of these specialty programs and pleased to be acknowledged for providing outstanding patient care and service to all Hoosier children and families,” said Dan Fink, president and CEO, Riley Hospital for Children. “Not only does this distinction recognize our achievements, but speaks well to the experience of our physicians, nurses and staff who are devoted to enhancing the lives and well-being of children.”

“These rankings reflect our commitment to the state of Indiana and beyond,” said Dan Evans, president and CEO, Clarian Health. “We will continue to recruit top physicians and researchers, lead the state in cutting edge research and cultivate statewide partnerships to ensure Riley Hospital and Clarian Health provide the highest quality care to our patients and their families.”

“While they might be a small percentage of all hospital patients, a large number of children every year need high-quality hospital care,” said Avery Comarow, Health Rankings Editor, U.S. News Media Group. “The objective of the Best Children's Hospitals rankings is to help children with uniquely challenging medical needs, and for these special patients, it is essential they seek treatment at pediatric facilities with deep expertise. With this year's rankings, we're providing important information on the best of the best."

The methodology behind this year’s rankings weighed a three-part blend of reputation, outcome, and care-related measures such as nursing care, advanced technology, credentialing, and other factors. The hospitals were judged based on a combination of opinions from pediatric specialists about the hospitals they would recommend for the sickest children and data gathered in a 65-page survey covering important medical information ranging from surgical death rates to whether pediatric anesthesiologists and other sub specialists are on the staff. A detailed description of the methodology can be found at www.usnews.com/childrenshospitals.

Ranking-eligible facilities were largely drawn from two membership categories of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI): freestanding children’s hospitals, or “hospitals within a hospital” (large, multidisciplinary pediatric departments within a medical center). Several non-NACHRI members were added because of known expertise or at the recommendation of experts. Of the 160 children’s hospitals invited to complete the 65-page survey, 98 responded. The survey was created and administered by RTI International, the same respected research organization that collects the data and oversees the methodology behind the adult Best Hospitals rankings.

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About Riley Hospital for Children As one of the nation’s leading pediatric hospitals and Indiana’s first and only comprehensive hospital dedicated exclusively to the care of children, Riley Hospital for Children, a part of Clarian Health, has provided compassionate care, support and comfort to children and their families for 85 years. Each year, Riley Hospital and Riley Hospital at Clarian North serve over 215,000 inpatients and outpatients from across Indiana, the nation and the world. Riley Hospital’s partnership with Clarian Health, and its strong affiliation with the Indiana University School of Medicine, makes it the only comprehensive clinical resource for Indiana’s children and the premiere source for health-related information for their parents. From simple care associated with the health and wellness of children and less complex specialty care to the most critically-ill and medically complex cases, Riley Hospital for Children is a national leader.  Clarian Health operates the Methodist Hospital, Indiana University Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children campuses as a single hospital under Indiana law. Visit www.rileyhospital.org for more information.

- Posted May 20, 2009 -

CONGRATULATIONS CLARIAN NURSES! For the second time in a row, Clarian has been awarded Magnet designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. What does this mean? It means that Clarian nurses have been acknowledged again for their commitment, professionalism, and efforts to advance the profession of nursing. It also means that Clarian Health has been acknowledged as a place where nurses have opportunities to actively impact decision-making in patient care… which makes Clarian an ideal place for nurses who want a career where they can make a difference!

- Posted March 16, 2009 -

Clarian Health is the first hospital in Indiana to earn the Gold Seal of Approval™ and a Certificate of Distinction for its Advanced Ventricular Assist Device Program. Awarded by The Joint Commission, the awards were based on compliance with national standards, clinical guidelines and outcomes of care. Learn more about the program at www.jointcommission.org.

Two Riley physicians who are IU School of Medicine faculty were honored by the Indiana Commission for Women (ICW) at the Indiana’s Salute to Women 5th Annual Torchbearer Awards gala.

Dr. Margaret Blythe, professor of pediatrics and adjunct professor of gynecology, was awarded the 2009 Torchbearer Award. She has had a faculty appointment at IUSM since the mid-1970s. Under her direction, there is now a computer-linked network of seven adolescent community clinics that serves teens and their families.

Dr. Mary Rouse, director of the Charis Center for Eating Disorders and associate professor of clinical pediatrics, was awarded the 2009 Keeper of the Light Award. Dr. Rouse single-handedly developed clinical services for eating disorders--a difficult-to-treat and often misunderstood health condition that disproportionately affects young women. She remains one of the lone physicians specializing in this area.

Several Clarian Health and IU School of Medicine faculty recently were honored at the Indianapolis Business Journal’s ninth annual Health Care Heroes award program at the Westin Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. Of the five winners, four were affiliated with either Clarian or the IU School of Medicine.

HealthNet Inc. (represented by President Booker Thomas) won the Community Achievement in Health Care category for providing clinical services to those in need, regardless of their ability to pay. Other finalists in this category included the IUSM Regional Medical Education Campuses (represented by Stephen Leapman, MD).

Aaron Cohen-Gadol, MD, Clarian Neuroscience and Indianapolis Neurosurgical Group, won the Advancements in Health Care category for his pioneering work in developing innovative surgical procedures to treat patients initially told their conditions are inoperable. Other finalists in this category included the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center’s Komen Tissue Bank (represented by Anna Maria Storniolo, MD).

The late Stephen D. Williams, MD, Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, won the Physician category for his achievements in helping Hoosiers to battle cancer. Other finalists included Terry G. Horner, MD, Indianapolis Neurosurgical Group, and Richard L. Schreiner, MD, Riley Hospital for Children.

Kathy Redelmen, RN, BSN, CNRN, Indianapolis Neurosurgical Group, won the Non-Physician category for her lifelong career of contributing to patient care. Other finalists included Clarian Women’s Services Lisa Crane, MSN, RN and Sandra Maher, RN, MSN, FNP.

Norm McCarty, a volunteer at Riley Hospital for Children, was a finalist in the Volunteer category for donating 9,270 hours to the hospital and putting his carpentry skills to work on behalf of Riley patients.

- Posted March 7, 2009 -

Lunetta “Lynn” Bridgewater, RN, clinical manager at Methodist Hospital, will receive the “Above and Beyond” award. The award is given out by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and is one of the highest honors bestowed on a civilian.

Bridgewater, who oversees weekend, evening and night shifts, supervised RN Jennifer Hulette throughout 2008, working with Hulette during several scheduling conflicts as a result of Hulette and her husband both being enlisted in the US Army. “She had various assignments, and she expected to be deployed to Iraq,” Bridgewater explained. As it turned out, Hulette’s husband was deployed, and with little notice.

“She wanted time to spend with her husband. She didn’t know if she’d ever see him again. Given the sacrifice our military is expected to make, we were honored to cover her shifts and anything else we could do to help them.” Bridgewater is quick to point out that Clarian has policies in place to accommodate the needs of employees serving in the military. Hulette still works under Bridgewater at Clarian Arnett and Methodist as a supplemental RN in the Emergency Rooms.

Hulette and her husband will accompany Bridgewater as her guests to the award reception on March 20th at 5:30 PM at the Mariott North Indianapolis. 15 of the approximately 2000 “Above and Beyond” recipients are chosen to receive the “Freedom Award.”

Lydia Ostermeier, MSN, RN, CHCR, Director of Nurse Recruitment, Retention, Workforce Development, Resource Allocation and Customer Service, recently was quoted in two articles of the January edition of Advance Web magazine. The articles examined Web advertising during a down economy.

Here are links to both articles: Web Sites: The Next Generation and Optimize Your Web Site.

- Posted February 3, 2009 -

Bellinda Wallbank, MSN, RN, CNRN, a clinical educator for critical care at Methodist Hospital, has been given the Circle of Excellence Award by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) for her work on a critical care internship program.

Teresa O’Donnell Gibbs, MSN, RN, an adjunct clinical instructor for the IU School of Nursing and a Clarian employee, has received the Outstanding Faculty Award from the December 2008 accelerated BSN class at the school.

Four Clarian employees have been selected by United Way of Central Indiana to participate in a comprehensive community leadership and board development program called Leadership United.
   - Tina Wenstrom, MSM, Director of Operations in Material Services
   - Erin Kirby, RNC, Interim Clinical Director of Women’s Services at Methodist
   - Matt Starr, MSN, RN, Asst Clinical Director of the Pediatric Specialty Care Center at Riley
   - Meredith Gradle, compensation consultant in Human Resources.

Clarian Health was recently named one of the top 100 hospitals to work for by Nursing Professionals magazine.

Two Clarian nurses recently authored or co-authored articles that have appeared in issues of the trade journal Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America. Mary A. Myers, MSN, RN, and Kevin D. Reed, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CPHQ-BC, co-authored a piece entitled “The Virtual ICU: A New Dimension for Critical Care Nursing Practice.” Myers is a Director of Inpatient Medicine for Clarian, and Reed is a Director of Adult Critical Care Services at Methodist.

The Magnet appraisal team for the American Nurses Credentialing Center has confirmed its site visit at Clarian Health from Feb. 23-27, 2009. This puts Clarian one step closer to the important and prestigious Magnet re-designation.

Three staff nurses - Jessica Melcher (Methodist), Jami Sutton (IU) and Peggy Payne (Riley) were recently chosen as quarterly DAISY Award winners for their extraordinary compassion and skill at work. A fourth award was presented to the family of Riley nurse Samantha Burke, who was killed in a car accident earlier this year.

Lydia Ostermeier, Clarian’s Director of Nurse Recruitment, Retention, Workforce Development, Resource Allocation and Customer Service recently published a book called “Nurse Retention Toolkit: Everyday Ways to Recognize and Reward Nurses.” Co-authored by Bonnie Clair, a retention project manager at Cox Health in Springfield, MO, the book was published this fall and is available for sale at www.HCPro.com or www.hcmarketplace.com.

For the seventh straight year, nurses enjoy top public accolades in Gallup's annual Honesty and Ethics of Professions survey. Eighty-four percent of Americans say nurses’ honesty and ethical standards either high or very high.

Danyel Gooch, RN, lung transplant coordinator, was selected as the 2008 recipient of the Genzyme Clinical Transplant Award of Distinction from NATCO, the Organization for Transplant Professionals.